Let’s talk about your print infrastructure

Posted 1 year ago

3 min read

Let’s talk about your print infrastructure.

The nature of printing has changed. The shift from paper-based to digital documentation brings all sorts of new challenges. How best do you store files, and share them, and secure them? How do you make the right information available to the right people, in the right format, at the right time?

To shed some light on the issues, we talked with Quentyn Taylor, Director of Information Security for Canon Europe, about what’s changed and what to do about it.

Why do I need to look at my print infrastructure?

The office printer isn’t just the device in the corner any more. While copying and faxing have become less common, document scanning and sharing are now vital components in keeping business moving. As such, the printer needs to be integrated into the wider network of devices and platforms that people use, and this can sometimes be overlooked.

Why does this matter?

Businesses spend up to 3% of revenue on print-related activity, with around 50% of that expenditure on document management, unseen and unaccounted for. It’s these hidden costs of printing that impact the bottom line.

What does best-in-class print look like?

Leading companies now treat print as a business asset that needs to be managed, rather than a function. An integrated infrastructure combines data security with easy access to documents, while providing the visibility of management information that’s essential for better decision-making and more efficient operations.

So how can I better manage my print infrastructure to support business growth?

Having discrete, disconnected printers from a number of suppliers increases costs, security issues and business efficiency. Often, businesses don’t appreciate how many printers they’re running and the effect of this. In the first instance, a print fleet audit establishes what equipment you have and where. It’s the first step in putting together an integrated print infrastructure that can be proactively managed. This enables you to make tangible process improvements that increase accountability and control.

Where does data security fit into this?

As a part of the move away from paper-based documentation, digital files are now saved and stored on printer hard drives as well as on PCs and mobile devices. Unauthorised access to these files can potentially be very damaging. And this is quite apart from the threats posed by the wrong people picking up documents from the printer tray. The fact is, over 70% of organisations have at least one data breach as the result of unsecured printing.

Will what you do make a difference?

We’re saving companies in a range of sectors up to £1m a year on print, helping them to transform the way they approach it. Our work helps them to reduce printer numbers, cut costs, and increase productivity and security. It could be well worth talking to us about it.